Fairgrounds Tragedy Prompts Challenge on Same-Sex Marriage

The tragic stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair this month could have some far-reaching consequences for, of all things, the same-sex marriage laws in that state, reports WBEZ in Chicago.

Beth Urschel was injured in the collapse of the stage and her wife, Tammy VanDam, died in the accident. The couple were married in Hawaii where same-sex civil unions are legal. Their attorney, Kenneth Allen, said that as Tammy’s wife, Beth is entitled to be treated as such under the law. “That's something we intend to challenge because as it stands now, Indiana law does not recognize her as a spouse and we expect to change that,” he says.

IndyStar.com reported on Saturday that “Allen said in an interview, he plans to challenge Indiana law's lack of recognition of a same-sex partner as a beneficiary under its wrongful-death law.”

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Comments

This could turn out to be either a very interesting law suit and court battle, or the state may settle this one out of court with very little fanfare, so as not to rile many of the "Religious Right" in Indiana.